THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


Mother  Owl's 
Rhymes 

Not  so  Goosie  as  Mother  Goose 


a  little  sense 

nixed  with  a  little  plav, 
To  wisdom's  gate 

Will  pave  the  way. 

A  A 

racts,  figures  and  fancies,  woven  Into  attractive 
verse  for  me  little  folks. 

A  A 

By  Kate  PerKinson  Howard 

EDITED  BY 

Delia  D.  Hughes 


Copyright  1911 
by  KATE  PERKINSON  HOWARD 

and 
DELLA  D.  HUGHES 


H 


Author's  Note 

CHE  idea  of  sending  these   rhymes   to  the   hearts  of 
active  children,  came  through     conversation     with 
a  friend  on  the  subject  of  strengthening  the  mem 
ory,  and  realizing  that  children  much  more  readily 
accept  and  retain  facts  in  verse  or  rhyme  than  in  prose. 
With  children  as  with  plants,  each  mind  assimilates  food 
that    corresponds    to    its    development.      The    faculty    of 
stringing    words    into    rhyme,    just    as    you    would    string 
beads,  putting  in  here  and  there  a  bright  one,  then  hold 
ing  up  the  strand  to  note  the  effect,  has  always  been  a 
happy  habit  of  mine,  and  during  these   several  years  of 
enforced   inactivity  of  the   body,   my  brain   has   found   a 
safety-valve  through  this  expression. 

My  earnest  desire  to  come  in  touch  with  young  inquiring 
minds  is  being  gratified.  To  this  town  nestled  on  the 
sands  of  the  grand  old  Pacific,  with  its  never  ceasing 
ebb  and  flow  of  tide,  where  the  music  of  the  breakers  is 
ever  bringing  thought  of  other  worlds,  came  an  under 
standing  friend,  through  whose  practical  ability  I  have 
been  enabled  to  reach  you. 

KATE    PERKINSON    HOWARD. 
Ocean  Park,  California. 


6 


Introduction 

Mother  Owl  is  a  wise  old  bird; 

She  said:     "Now,  what's  the  use 
Of  learning-  all  the  silly  things 

We  find  in  Mother  Goose  ? 

Why  not  teach  children  things 

Worth  while,  a  rhyme,  a  fact,  a  rule, 

To  store  away  within  the  mind 
Before   they   go   to   school? 

'Twill  help  them  up  the  rugged  path 
Of  learning's  hill  to  climb; 

For  things  we  learn  in  childhood 
We    remember    for    all    time." 

I  offer  you  this  little  book, 

I  hope  to  please  you  well, 
And  if  it  does,  'twill  not  offend 

The  author,  if  you  tell. 


Star  Spangled  Banner. 

In  the  year  eighteen-fourteen 
'Mid  tumult  and  strife, 

Our   National   hymn   first 
Came  into  life. 

Besieged  by  the  British 
With  fierce  shot  and  shell 

Good  old   Fort   McHenry 
Stood  bravely  and  well. 

An  American  poet,  by  a 

Strange  turn  of  fate, 
Was  detained,  the  result 

Of  the  contest  to  wait, 

On  the  enemies'  warship. 

And  from  where  she  lay, 
He  witnessed  the  battle 

That  terrible  day. 

The  bombardment  kept  on; 

Through  the  darkness  of  night 
He  could  catch  but  a  glimpse 

By  the  rocket's  red  light, 

Of  the  flag  that  he  loved 
As  it  waved  on  the  shore, 

His  heart  throbs  beat  time 
To  the  cannon's  deep  roar. 


Thus  'mid  thrilling  scenes 
And  in  this  strange  manner 

Was  written  the  song 

Of  the  Star  Spangled  Banner. 

In  our  history  Francis  Scott  Key 

Has   a  part, 
For  his  song  is  the  key 

To  America's  heart. 


Robert  Fulton. 

Way  back  in  eighteen  seven, 

Robert  Fulton,  known  to  fame, 

Built  the  first  steamboat, 
And  called  it  by  his  name. 

Other  men  had  tried  in  vain, 
By  steam  to  make  things  go, 

But  Robert  made  it  practical, 
The  others  were  too  slow. 

Upon  the  grand  old  Hudson, 

He  made  his  trial  trip, 
The  people  cheered  him  loudly 

When  they  saw  his  little  ship 

Steam  gaily  up  the  river 

From  the  city  of  New  York, 

And  skim  along  the  water 
As  lightly  as  a  cork. 


Measurements. 

A  centipede  has  one  hundred  feet, 

A  quadruped  has  four, 
A  biped  has  two  feet, 

And  has  no  use  for  more. 

''Dorothy,  you're  joking, 

What  was  that  you  said? 
If  you  had  but  one  foot 

You'd  be  a  uniped?" 

*     *     * 

Sixty  little  seconds  in  every  little  minute, 

Every  passing  hour  has  sixty  minutes  in  it. 

Twenty-four  hours  make  a  night  and  day, 

When  you  count  seven  of  these 

A  week  has  passed  away. 

Fifty-two  weeks,  some  warmer,  some  colder, 

Then  you  will  find  you're  one  year  older. 


Each  star  upon  our  bonnie  flag, 

For  a  state  doth  stand, 
The  stripes  are  for  the  states  thirteen. 

First  linked  in  union  band. 


Ten  years  make  a  decade. 
Twenty  years  a  score, 

One  hundred  years  a  century. 
No  use  counting  more. 

Twelve  months  in  a  year, 

My  little  cousin, 
Twelve  kisses  for  you,  dear, 

That  makes  a  dozen. 


*  *      * 

"Twelve  eggs  make  a  dozen,"  said  the  setting  hen, 
"You're  right,  my  lady,"  chuckled  rooster  Ben, 

"Twelve  dozen  makes  a  gross,  wish  it  were  but  ten." 
"If  you  hatch  a  gross  of    chicks,    you    are    right 
again." 

*  *     * 

5280   feet   in   a   single   mile — 

If  you  had  as  many  feet, 
'Twould  make  the  shoe  man  smile. 

*  *     * 

Sixteen  Dunces  make  a  pound,  that  counts  one ; 
If  you  weigh  2,000  pounds,  that  counts  a  ton. 

*  *     * 

Twelve  inches  make  one  foot, 
Three  feet  in  a  yard  we  put, 
Five  and  one-half  yards  make  a  rod, 
Drive  a  stake  in  the  sod. 
Forty  rods  a  furlong  make, 
Here  you  drive  another  stake. 
Eight  furlongs  make  a  mile, 
Drive  a  stake  and  rest  a  while. 


Scotland. 

The  land  of  the  bagpipe  and  tartan, 
Robert  Burns  is  her  national  bard, 

The  emblem  of  Scotland,  the  thistle, 
So  don't  press  a  Scotchman  too  hard. 


11 


Airship. 

The  ambition  of  inventors 
For  many  years  had  been 

To  prove  that  they  could  navigate 
The  air  with  a  machine. 

In  nineteen-three,  two  brothers, 
Orville  and  Wilbur  Wright, 

Built  for  themselves  an  aeroplane. 
And  in  it  made  a  flight. 

After  years  of  patient  labor 

Their  failures  none  could  guess, 

They  waved  triumphant  from  the  sky 
The  banner  of  success. 

Soon  other  aviators   were 
Performing  startling  feats 

And  thrilling  crowds  of  spectators 
At  aviation  meets. 

What  yet  may  be  accomplished 

Can  scarcely  be  foretold; 
Perhaps  they'll  fly  up  to  the  moon, 

These  aviators  bold. 


12 


Golden  Rule. 

The  golden  rule,  dear  children, 
Is,  that  you  should  always  do 

To  other  people  as  you  would  wish 
To  have  them  do  to  you. 

If  you  obey  this  simple  rule 

'Twill  keep  you  free  from  strife, 

And  make  you  happy,  bring  you 
Friends,  and  brighten  all  your  life. 


Don't  look  in  the  glass  with  a  frowning  face, 

Expecting  to  meet  a  smile, 
For  the  thoughts  we  launch  on  the  waves  of  time, 

Float  back  to  us  all  the  while. 


Never  say,  "I  can't,"  my  dear, 

Rather  say,  "I'll  try." 
When  success  comes  down  the  street 

She  will  not  pass  you  by. 


Kind  words  are  just  as  easy  said 
As  ugly  words,  and  cross; 

Love  will  gain  you  many  friends, 
While  hate  will  bring  you  loss. 


13 


The  Early  Worm. 

Grandpa  was  lecturing  William 

Which  caused  that  brave  youngster  to  squirm, 
"Remember  my  boy,"  he  concluded, 

"That  the  early  bird  catches  the  worm." 

"Well,  grandpa,  what  of  the  early  worm? 

He  was  up  too  before  daylight, 
And  yet  the  poor  fellow  was  gobbled 

When    the    early    bird    hove    in    sight." 

Grandpa  was  floored  for  a  moment, 

Then  struck  by  an  idea  bright, 
He  solemnly  said :     "Look  here,  my  son, 

That  worm  had  been  out  all  night." 


Mamma,  dear,  stop  reading,  come  with  me  and  look! 

I've  found  a  lot  of  pussies  down  beside  the  brook. 
See  them  hanging  on  the  branch,  fuzzy  little  fellows, 
April  fool !  Mamma,  the're  only  pussy  willows. 


365. 

Every  day  is  your  birthday,  dear, 
If  in  your  heart  some  bright  hope  is  born, 
If  some  good  deed  is  done,  ere  another  morn, 
You're  a  better  child  each  day  of  the  year 
And  every  day  is  your  birthday,  dear. 


14 


Geography. 

A  desert  is  a  barren  land, 

A  dreary  waste  of  dry,  hot  sand, 

An  oasis  is  a  fertile  spot, 

Surrounded  by  the  desert  hot. 

A  cape  is  just  a  point  of  land 
Into  the  water  projecting, 

An  isthmus,  a  narrow  neck  of  land 
Two  larger  bodies  connecting. 

An  island  is  a  piece  of  land 
With  water  all  around  it, 

We  use  an  "S"  in  spelling  it, 
Although  we  never  sound  it. 

Now,  I'll  tell  you  something  else 
You  didn't  know  a  spell  ago, 

A  group  of  islands  in  the  sea 
Is  called  an  archipelago. 

The  earth  has  not  been  cut  in  two, 
And  yet  we  often  hear, 

The  eastern  half  and  western  half, 
Each  called  a  hemisphere. 

The  western  half,  or  continent 

Is  called  the  Occident ; 
The  eastern  half  or  old  world, 

Is  called  the  orient. 


15 


The  Quaker  State. 

Pennsylvania  was  settled, 

Do  you  remember  when? 
By  the  Quakers  in  1681, 

Their  leader,  William  Penn. 

He  surely  was  a  Yankee, 
For  he  started  in  to  trade, 

To  give  the  Red  Men  a 

Fair  deal,  no  enemies  he  made. 

One  day  he  made  a  trade ; 

I  think  he  took  the  Red  Men  in ; 
A  jug  o'  'lasses,  for  all  the  land 

He  could  cover  with  a  skin. 

He  cut  the  skin  in  tiny  strings, 
He  joined  them  in  a  band, 

And  when  he  came  to  stretch  it  round, 
He  had  quite  a  piece  of  land. 

The  Indians  learned  the  skin  game, 
But  William  got  the  goods. 

Know  what  Pennsylvania  means? 
It  means  Penn's  woods. 


16 


California 

Gold  was  discovered  in  1848, 

Two  years  later,  California  was  a  state. 

A  man  named  James  W.  Marshall 

Was  the  first  who  saw  it  shine, 

The  argonauts  were  the  pioneers 

Of  the  days  of  forty-nine.   , 

The  yellow  poppy  is  the  emblem 

Of  the  Golden  State. 

You  enter  San  Francisco  Bay 

By  the  famous  Golden  Gate. 


Seventeen  seventy-six  found  our  country  in  a 

fix, 

The  British  so  oppressed  us  with  taxation. 
Our  forefathers  thought  it  best 
For  their  country  so  distressed, 
On  July  Fourth,  to  sign  the  Declaration. 
Then  Washington  took  command 
Of  the  army  of  our  land, 
Which  caused  Mother  England  much  vexation, 
And  the  way  he  spanked  John  Bull 
Put  an  end  to  British  rule 
And  sent  them  helter-skelter  from  our  nation. 


17 


An  ox  is  a  bovine,  so  is  a  cow, 
A  horse  is  an  equine,  he  draws  the  plow, 
A  cat  is  a  feline,  talks  with  a  meow, 
A  dog"  is  a  canine,  bow-bow-wow. 


Thirty  days  hath  September, 

April,  June  and  November, 

All  the  rest  have  thirty-one, 

Save  February,  which  alone 

Has  twenty-eight,  and  one  day  more 

We  add  to  it,  one  year  in  four. 

— Selected. 


Florida  is  the  peninsula  state, 

Its  name  means  the  land  of  flowers, 

There  oranges  grow,  rare  orchids  are  found 
In  the  depths  of  its  woodland  bowers. 


18 


My  Flying  Machine. 

Come,  sweetheart,  fly  with  me, 

And  happy  we  will  be, 

To  leave  behind  this  old  familiar  scene. 

I  am  going  to  learn  to  fly, 

Take  a  trip  up  in  the  sky 

In  my  airy,  fairy,  flying  machine. 

We  can  start  now,  pretty  soon 

And  go  sailing  'round  the  moon, 

As  in  our  airy  aeroplane  we  fly. 

Throw  a  kiss  to  those  we  love 

From  the  azure  depths  above, 

And  drink  nectar  from  the  dipper  in  the  sky. 

We  will  plant  the  Stripes  and  Stars 

From  old  Jupiter  to  Mars 

As  we  whirl  around  the  firmament  so  gay, 

With  the  brightest  star  up  there 

I  will  decorate  your  hair, 

And  take  you  riding  down  the  Milky  Way. 


19 


Alaska. 

Come  take  a  trip  to  Alaska! 

The  land  of  the  ice  and  the  snow, 
Of  the  polar  bear  and  the  caribou, 

The  land  of  the  Eskimo. 

Come  for  a  cruise  in  the  Behring  Sea, 
Where  the  iceberg  serenely  floats, 

The  fur  seals  sport  on  its  jagged  side, 
Clad  in  their  seal-skin  coats. 

Come  to  the  land  of  romance, 
Where  shines  the  midnight  sun, 

Like  an  emblem  of  golden  promise 
Of  the  fortunes  to  be  won. 

To  the  mecca  of  the  miner, 

Where  many  millions  in  gold 
Were  found  by  the  sturdy  pioneers, 

And  millions  yet  untold, 

In  shining  golden  nuggets, 

Are  entombed  in  the  frozen  ground, 

Awaiting  the  click  of  the  miners'  pick, 
Just  waiting  to  be  found. 

Let  me  take  you  to  ride  with  my  dog  team, 
I  will  show  you  how  they  can  go, 

With  a  yelp  and  a  bark,  off  for  a  lark 
Over  the  frozen  snow. 


20 


Let  us  spin  up  the  creek  where  the  miner 
Digs  prospect  holes  by  the  score, 

And  stop  for  a  chat  at  his  cabin, 

There  is  a  welcome  for  us  at  the  door. 

Perhaps  we  may  meet  a  reindeer,  « 

Drawing  a  sled  on  the  trail, 
Or  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  dog  team 

That  brings  in  the  winter  mail. 

The  carrier,  mushing  on  bravely, 
Through  blizzard  and  biting  cold, 

And  a  letter  from  home  is  welcome, 

Though  the  post  mark  be  two  months  old. 


21 


Christinas 

Christmas  day,  dear  children, 

Commemorates  the  birth 
Of  the  wondrous  babe  of  Bethlehem, 

A  Savior  born  to  earth. 

You  all  have  heard  the  story 

How  the  infant  Jesus  lay 
In  the  manger  of  a  stable 

On  a  pallet  made  of  hay. 

Yet  on  that  joyous  morning, 
They  heard  the  angels  sing, 

The  wise  men  came  to  worship, 
And  hailed  him  as  their  king. 

And  now  with  glad  rejoicing, 

We  celebrate  his  birth 
December  twenty-fifth,  the  day 

Our  Savior  came  on  earth. 


Ting-a-ling,  telephone,  let  me  tell, 
Was  the  invention  of  Graham  Bell. 
Sends  your  voice  a  thousand  miles 
Just  as  well  as  one. 
Before  we  had  the  telephone 
This  could  not  be  done. 


22 


Luther  Burbank 

Step  into  my  airship,  to  break  the  monotony 

I'll  take  you  to  call  on  the  wizard  of  botany. 

Luther  Burbank  first  rode  into  fame, 

On  a  smooth,  white  potato  that  still  bears  his  name. 

This  quaint  genius  dwells  in  secluded  repose, 
In  the  fair  California  city,  Saint  Rose, 
There  this  wizard  and  juggler,  rolled  into  one, 
Has  completed  much  work  left  by  nature  undone. 

Has  wrought  wonders  in  fruit,  plant  and  flower, 
In  the  shady  seclusion  of  his  pleasant  bower. 
But  his  latest  and  greatest  achievement  they  say, 
Was  in  taking  the  thorns  from  the  cactus  away, 

And  making  it  fit  to  serve  at  a  feast, 
Or  furnish  nutrition  for  both  man  and  beast. 
He  expects  to  create,  if  I  tell  you  don't  scream, 
A  plant  that  produces  strawberries  and  cream. 


I  know  you  all  have  felt 

Proud  of  Teddy  Roosevelt; 

And  the  brave  rough  rider  boys 

Who  fought  with  Teddy 

When  they  crossed  land  and  sea, 

Helped  set  poor  Cuba  free, 

And  for  another  scrap  said  they  were  ready. 


23 


Cuba. 

On  account  of  the  cruelties 

Practiced  by  Spain, 

Uncle  Sam  interfered? 

Put  an  end  to  her  reign. 

The   war   that   was   waged   in    1898 

Lasted  just  a  few  months 

But  settled  the  fate 

Of  Spanish  dominion 

In  the  Antilles, 

And  Cuba  rejoiced 

When  Spain  took  to  her  heels. 

Uncle  Sam  took  poor  Cuba 

Under  his  wing, 

Adjusted  her  laws, 

Rearranged   everything. 

When  to  govern  herself 

The  way  she  could  see, 

He  made  good  his  promise 

And  Cuba  was  free. 


In  the  year  eighteen  ninety-eight  upon  the  first  of  May 
Dewey  met  the  Spanish  fleet  out  in  Manila  Bay, 
What  did  Dewey  do  to  them?  Well,  really  some  folks 

say, 
He  ate  them  up  for  breakfast  out  in  Manila  Bay. 


24 


Monroe  Doctrine. 

The  famous  Monroe  Doctrine 

Was  proclaimed  by  James  Monroe, 

When  he  was  our  country's  president, 
Many  years  ago. 

He  said  if  any  nation 

Should  plainly  show  intent 

To  set  up  a  form  of  government 
Upon  our  continent, 

Such  act  he  would  consider 

Sufficient  cause  for  war, 
And  proceed  to  give  intruders 

What  they  were  looking  for. 

So  Uncle  Sam  approved  it  all, 

And  posted  on  a  card 
A  warning  to  all  nations 

"Keep  out  of  my  back  yard." 


25 


The  Right  Path. 

Miss  Mollie  Quack  one  morning 
Met  Johnny   Funny-cluck; 

He  raised  his  hat  politely 
And  said:     "My  little  Duck, 

You're   looking   sweet   and   charming, 

Hope  I  find  you  well!" 
"O,  dear,"  she  sighed,  "I've  been  so  ill, 

Let  me  my  troubles  tell. 

"I've  been  to  all  the  doctors, 

If  everything  they  said 
Or  half  of  it  were  true, 

I  surely  would  be  dead. 

"I  first  went  to  an  Allopath, 
Who  gave  me  nasty  drugs, 

I  nearly  lost  my  appetite, 
For  pollywogs  and  bugs. 

"I  next  went  to  a  Homeopath, 

Who  gave  me  sugar  pills, 
Assured  me  they  were  harmless 

And  would  banish  all  my  ills. 

"An  Osteopath  then  twisted  me 

Until  my  back  was  double ; 
A  Neuropath  declared  my  nerves 

The  cause  of  all  the  trouble. 


26 


"He  said  I  needed  perfect  quiet, 

I  dare  not  even  quack, 
His  verdict  so  insulted  me, 

I  vowed  I'd  ne'er  go  back." 

"You  look  so  bright  this  morning', 
You've  found  relief  I'm  sure;" 

"O,  yes,  I  went  to  a  Hydropath 
And  took  the  water  cure." 


27 


The  Lighting  Bug. 

Thomas  A.  Edison,  wonderful  man, 
Was  there  e'er  such  another 
Since  the  world  began? 

It  was  a  flash  of  his  intellect  bright, 
That   gave   to    the    world   the    electric    light, 
Which  illumined  the  earth,  turned  night  into  day, 
Yet  this  genius  kept  on,  with  no  time  to  play. 

His  next  wonder  was  the  great  phonograph. 

A  machine  that  can  talk,  sing,  cry  or  laugh ; 

Reproduce  any  sound  that  falls  on  the  ear ; 

Still  the  wizard  is  working,  and  from  year  to  year 

Comes  forth  from  his  brain  some  wondrous  invention 

To  startle  the  world  and  claim  its  attention. 

Long  life  to  you,  Thomas ;  we  think  an  ovation 

Is  due  to  you,  prince,  for  your  princely  donation. 


28 


Thought  Wings. 

Way  off  in  sunny  Italy,  Marconi  was  born ; 

He  dreamed  a  dream  one  summer  night 
And  told  it  in  the  morn. 

Perhaps  the  folks  he  told  it  to 
Were  too  polite  to  laugh. 

The  wondrous  dream  Marconi  dreamt 
Was  the  wireless  telegraph. 

And  now  the  ships  that  sail  the  sea 

Can  flash  a  message  far, 
And  summon  help  in  time  of  need, 

No  matter  where  they  are. 
And  many  lives  have  thus  been  saved 

On  danger  threatened  craft, 
All  honor  to  Marconi  and  wireless  telegraph. 


29 


Ireland 

St.  Patrick  is  the  patron  saint 
Of  the  little  emerald  isle. 

He  banished  all  the  snakes  and  toads 
They  tell  you  with  a  smile. 

They  honor  good  Saint  Patrick, 
Their  love  for  him  is  great, 

And  on  the  seventeenth  of  March 
His  birth  they  celebrate. 

On  that  day  every  Irishman 

Wears  a  bran  new  hat, 
And  a  shamrock  on   his   coat 

In  honor  of  St.  Pat. 


"I  know  a  girl  we  call  Postscript," 
Said  Rob  as  he  made  for  the  door. 

"Know  why  we  call  her  so,  Daddy? 
Her  name  is  Adaline  Moore." 


30 


Butterfly 

Little  Ruth  and  Tommy, 
'Neath  the  apple  tree, 

Having  a  tea  party, 
Happy  as  can  be. 

Tea  and  bread  and  butter, 

Jam  and  apple  pie, 
Uninvited  to  the  feast, 

Comes  a  buzzing  fly. 

Tommy  lifts  his  napkin, 
Comes  down  with  a  swish, 

Fly  is  fairly  landed, 
In  the  butter  dish. 

"Don't  you  hurt  him,  brother, 
Cause  I  tell  you  why, 

Teacher  told  us  never 
To  kill  a  butterfly." 


"What's  an  incubator  ?  tell  me  Uncle  Ben." 
Well,  I  should  call  it  a  big  wooden  hen — 

Hatches  out  a  hundred  chicks,  all  at  once  and  then, 
Does  the  same  thing  over,   when  filled  with  eggs 

again. 
"I'd  hate  to  be  a  chick,  with  such  a  bunch  to  call  me 

brother, 
And  have  no  one  to  scratch  for  me,  but  a  wooden 

mother." 


31 


Chickens  Versus  Poultry. 

When  Jack  and  Betty  first  were  wed 

And  settled  down  in  life, 
He  bought  a  pretty  bungalow 

For  his  pretty  little  wife. 

When  they  were  fairly  settled 

Down  in  this  cozy  spot, 
Says  Betty,  "Let's  raise  poultry, 

There's  room  in  our  back  lot." 

"All  right,"  said  Jack,  "I'm  in  for  it, 

You're  idea  is  charming, 
I  always  felt  that  I  could  win 

Success  at  poultry  farming. 

The  poultry  show  is  on  this  week, 

Let's  take  it  in  and  find 
What  breed  of  poultry  is  the  best, 

And  then  we'll  buy  that  kind." 

That  evening  found  them  at  the  show; 

They  were  in  search  of  knowledge, 
For  poultry  lore  was  not  a  part 

Of  what  they  learned  in  college. 

There  were  Leghorns,  brown  and  white, 
And  big  Rhode  Island  Reds, 

Speckled  and  Golden  Polands 
With  pompons  on  their  heads. 


32 


And  Plymouth  Rocks,  both  barred  and  white 

To  add  to  their  confusion, 
Black  Spanish  and  Wyandottes, 

And  the  Blue  Andalusian. 

Langshans,  Buff  Orpingtons  and 

Dainty  Bantams  small, 
Black  Minorcas  and  Buff  Cochins 

Were  ranged  around  the  hall. 

White  Brahmas,  Blue  and  Indian  Game, 

Known  to  the  poultry  world; 
And  fanciers  talked  of  pedigrees, 

While  glibly  they  unfurled 

The  virtues  of  their  favorite  breed ; 

Each  told  them  with  a  zest, 
It  mattered  not  what  others  said, 

His  surely  was  the  best. 

"O   dear!   they're   all   so   beautiful," 

Said  Betty  with  a  sigh, 
"I  fear  we  never  can  decide 

The  kind  we  want  to  buy." 

Jack  was  sorely  puzzled  too, 

Then  he  said:     "O,  the  Dickens! 

Let's  build  a  chicken  coop 

And  buy  a  bunch  of  chickens." 


33 


Panama  Canal. 

President  Roosevelt  you  know, 
Was  made  of  strenuous  stuff; 

One  day  he  said  to  Uncle  Sam: 
"We've  waited  long  enough 

"To  build  the  Panama  Canal, 

It  is  our  greatest  need; 
To  the  wishes  of  our  people, 

I  think  we  should  give  heed. 

"It  takes  a  boat  at  least  two  months, 
To  steam  around  the  Horn ; 

A  waste  of  time  and  money, 
As  sure  as  you  are  born. 

"If  we  cut  across  the  Isthmus 
A  canal  from  strand  to  strand, 

We  can  send  our  boats  across 
What  now  is  fifty  miles  of  land. 

"I  know  to  build  this  great  canal 

From  Atlantic  to  Pacific, 
Will  cost  a  barrel  of  money, 

And  prove  a  task  gigantic. 

"It  will  cost  three  hundred  million 

To  dig  this  little  ditch, 
But  you  have  the  reputation 

You  know  of  being  rich." 

Said  Uncle  Sam :  "Go  build  it, 
And  mind  that  you  don't  slight  it, 

I'll  show  the  world  I've  money  to  burn, 
And  matches  too,  to  light  it." 


34 


Listen  to  the  telegraph,  tick,  tick,  tick, 
Brings  a  message  from  afar,  click,  click,  click, 
As  news  from  all  the  world,  o'er  the  wire  flashes, 
Operator  writes  it  down,  all  in  dots  and  dashes. 
These  little  dots  and  dashes  make  the  alphabet, 
That's  the  way  in  Morse  code,  messages  we  get. 
Samuel  Morse  invented  this  system  long  ago, 
Year  of  eighteen  thirty-five,  if  you  wish  to  know. 


Although  Andrew  Carnegie  has  not  built  a  college, 
He  firmly  believes  in  distributing  knowledge, 
Just  make  your  wants  known  and  like  a  good  fairie 
He  will  build  in  your  town  a  handsome  library, 
Where  books  are  loaned  free  to  the  rich  or  the  poor, 
And  no  seeker  of  knowledge  is  turned  from  its  door. 


Ben  Franklin  discovered  a  wonderful  power, 
A  boon  to  the  world  it  has  proved  every  hour; 
When  for  pastime,  a  kite  he  was  trying  to  fly, 
An  electrical  current  he  brought  from  the  sky; 
Very  little  was  known  of  this  power  at  its  birth, 
But  inventors  have  made  it  the  marvel  of  earth. 


35 


Memorial  Day. 

When  earth  is  a  bloom  with  bright  flowers, 

On  the  thirtieth  day  of  May, 
We  visit  the  graves  of  our  soldiers, 

Upon  them  our  tribute  to  lay. 

And  whether  they  died  in  peace  time, 
Or  fell  in  the  battle's  fierce  fray, 

The  soldiers   who   fought  for  their  country 
Are  honored  in  memory  today. 

The  grand  old  men  of  the  G.  A.  R., 
Those  veterans  bearded  and  gray, 

Assemble,  their  comrades  to  honor, 
On  this,  our  Memorial  Day. 


There  was  a  little  lady, 

Her  name  was  Betsy  Ross, 
She  cut  up  her  silk  petticoat, 

It  didn't  make  her  cross, 
To  make  the  first  American  Flag. 

All  honor  to  her  name ! 
In  the  land  that  loves 

The  Stars  and  Stripes 
You  hear  of  Betsy's  fame. 


36 


Thanksgiving  is  an  American  day, 
It  is  only  observed  by  this  nation, 

The  date  of  its  coming  is  fixed  every  year 
By  our  President's  proclamation. 

He  bids  us  assemble  in  churches  and  homes 

In  respect  to  this  holiday  fair, 
And  in  recognition  of  blessings  received, 

To  offer  a  Thanksgiving  prayer. 

Our  dear  ones  returning  to  the  old  home, 
This  last  Thursday  of  November, 

Receive  hearty  welcome  and  jolly  good  cheer, 
And  help  us  our  blessings  remember. 


When  America  to  Europe 

A  secret  wished  to  tell, 
They  had  to  send  the  news 

By  boat,  which  took  quite  a  spell, 
Until  in  1865  a  genius  took  a  notion 

That  he  could  run  a  telegraph 
Across  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

And  soon  his  promise  he  fulfilled, 
He  proved  that  he  was  able. 

His  name  was  Cyrus  W.  Field, 
And  Cyrus  laid  the  cable. 


37 


Mamma  called  to  Louie, 

And  his  steps  to  quicken 
Said :    "Come,  now  help  me  work, 

Help  Mamma  dress  the  chicken." 
Louie  viewed  the  chickens,  looked  a  bit  distressed 

"Better  dress  him  quick,  Mamma, 
Because  he's  all  undressed." 


When  Clarence  first  saw  Easter  eggs, 

They  happened  to  be  blue, 
He  took  a  sudden  fancy 

To  eggs  of  this  strange  hue. 

Next  day  he  goes  to  Mamma, 

A  ball  of  blueing  begs, 
He  wants  to  feed  it  to  the  hen, 

To  make  her  lay  blue  eggs. 


"Marjorie,  what's  a  gosling? 

You  can  tell  me  maybe." 
"Sure  I  can,  Aunt  Mabel, 

It's  a  goosie's  baby." 


38 


A  noun  is  the  name  of  a  person  or  thing, 

A  verb  denotes  action,  as  to  walk  or  to  sing, 

A  pronoun  stands  in  the  place  of  a  noun, 

An  adjective  describes,  as  good,  pretty,  brown; 

An  adverb  expresses  time,  place  or  degree, 

As  today,  above,  most  tenderly; 

An   article   is   the   word,    a,   an,   or   the, 

Easily  remembered  there  are  but  three. 

The  interjection  is  an  exclamation 

Expressing  surprise,  perhaps  consternation; 

Conjunction,  preposition,  participle  each 

Have  a  place  on  the  list,  called  parts  of  speech. 


Texas  is  the  largest  state ! 

Rhode  Island  is  so  small 
You  could  paste  it  on  a  corner 

Of  most  any  state  at  all. 

Said  Texas  to  Rhode  Island, 
"You  saucy  little  scamp, 

I'd  really  like  to  borrow  you 
For  a  postage  stamp." 

This  made  Rhode  Island  angry, 
Now    tell    me,    Uncle    James 

Was  it  quite  nice  of  Texas 
To  call  Rhode  Island  names  ? 


39 


Christopher  Columbus  sailed  the  ocean  blue, 
Discovered  America  in  fourteen  ninety-two, 
Ferdinand  and  Isabella  on  the  throne  of  Spain, 
Furnished  him  the  money  and  ships  to  cross  the  main. 
A  native  of  Corsica,  this  navigator  bold, 
Discovered  America  when  sixty  years  old. 
Americus  Vespucius  gave  the  land  his  name, 
It  should  have  been  Columbus,  wasn't  that  a  shame  ? 


The  sewing  machine  so  common 

In  every  household  now, 

Was  invented  I860  by  Elias  Howe. 

Perhaps  his  wife  lamented 

Because  she  had  to  sew 

And  make  the  children's  pinafores 

By  hand,  it  was  so  slow. 

So  Elias  went  to  work 

To  show  his  good  intention 

And  gave  the  world  this 

Useful  and  much  needed  invention. 


40 


The  pilgrims  were  a  pious  band, 

They  landed  in  a  flock, 
In  the  year  sixteen-twenty, 

At  good  old  Plymouth  Rock. 
The  Mayflower  must  have  been 

About  the  biggest  craft  afloat, 
For  everybody's  ancestors 

Came  over  in  that  boat. 


41 


Song  of  Oregon. 

There's  a  land  of  glowing  plenty  on  the  old  Pacific  shore, 
Where  the  people  dwell  in  peace  and  harmony; 

'Tis  the  land  of  lofty  pines,  'tis  the  land  of  trailing  vines, 
And  the  snow  peaks  in  the  distance  you  can  see. 

Oregon !  my  heart  you've  fairly  won, 

From  your  hills  of  green  the  sunbeams  glance  and  quiver, 
Where  the  big  ships  come  and  go,  and  the  placid  waters  flow 

'Long  the  banks  of  the  old  Wilamette  river. 

'Tis  the  land  of  happy  hours,  'tis  the  land  of  fruit  and  flowers, 

And  its  hills  and  dales  are  ever  dear  to  me, 
'Tis  the  land  of  brightest  promise,  where  no  disappointment  dwells 

Beside  the  flowing  river  and  the  sea. 

Oregon!  my  heart  you've  fairly  won, 

From  your  hills  of  green  the  sunbeams  glance  and  quiver. 
'Tis  the  fair  land  of  the  west,  'tis  the  home  that  I  love  best. 

On  the  banks  of  the  old  Wilamette  river. 

'Tis  the  land  of  apple  blossoms,  'tis  the  land  of  feath'ry  ferns 

And  its  hills  surround  the  city  of  the  rose, 
'Tis  the  land  of  growing  grain,  where  the  farmer  sees  his  gain, 

As  at  evening  to  his  happy  home  he  goes.        , 

Oregon!  my  heart  you've  fairly  won, 

From  your  hills  of  green  the  sunbeams  glance  and  quiver, 
There's  a  welcome  here  for  you,  from  honest  hearts  and  true, 

On  the  banks  of  the  old  Wilamette  river. 


42 


Birth  Stones  and  Flowers. 

January        Gem,  White  Onyx. 
Flower,  Snow  Drop. 
Color,  Garnet,  Brown  and  Black. 

February      Gem,  Amethyst. 

Flower,  Primrose. 

Color,  Blue,  Pink  and  Nile  Green. 

March  Gem,  the  Bloodstone. 

Flower,  the  Violet. 
Color,  Pink,  White,  Emerald,  Black. 

April  Gem,  the  Diamond. 

Flower,  the  Daisy. 
Color,  White  and  Rose. 

May  Gem,  the  Emerald. 

Flower,  the  Hawthorn. 

Color,  Red  and  Lemon  Yellow. 

June  Gem,  the  Pearl. 

Flower,   Honeysuckle. 
Color,  Red,  Blue  and  White. 

July  Gem,  the  Ruby. 

Flower,  the  Water  Lily. 
Color,  Green  and  Russet  Red. 

August          Gem,   the  Moonstone. 
Flower,  the  Poppy. 
Color,  Red  and  Green. 


44 


September  Gem,  the   Sapphire. 

Flower,  Morning  Glory. 
Color,  Black,  Gold  and  Blue. 

October        Gem,  Opal. 

Flower,  Hops. 

Color,  Black,  Crimson  and  Blue. 

November    Gem,  the  Topaz. 

Flower,   Chrysanthemum. 

Color,  Golden,  Brown  and  Black. 

December    Gem,  Turquoise. 
Flower,  the  Holly 
'Color,  Golden,  Brown  and  Tuscan  Red 


45 


INDEX 

PAGE. 

Introduction    7 

Star    Spangled    Banner 8 

Robert  Fulton 9 

Measurements    10 

Airship    12 

Golden  Rule  13 

Early  Worm,  The 14 

Geography    15 

Quaker  State,  The 16 

California  17 

My  Flying  Machine 19 

Alaska  20 

Christmas   22 

Luther  Burbank  23 

Cuba   : 24 

Monroe  Doctrine  25 

R?ght  Path,  The 26 

Lighting  Bug,  The 28 

Thought   Wings   29 


46 


Ireland    

Butterfly  

Chickens   Versus   Poultry. 

Panama  Canal  

Memorial  Day  

Song  of  Oregon 

Birth  Stones  and  Flowers. 


PAGE. 

30 

31 

32 

34 

36 

42 

..  44 


47 


A    000  923  983     1 


PS 


